Man United must raid Tottenham for these two elite talents | OneFootball

Football is a brutal sport; a zero-sum game, on and off the pitch, where your team’s success comes at the expense of your competitor’s defeat. There is nowhere this is truer than when a big club raids another that has faced the ignominy of relegation to strike a bargain deal for their best players.

The general caveat to this is, naturally, relegated sides are usually the worst in the division – and the quality of their squads reflects this. But this is what makes the increasingly precarious position Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in such a unique one.

The Lilywhites are under new management after Igor Tudor, formerly of Juventus, took charge as caretaker until the end of the season in the wake of Thomas Frank’s departure earlier this month.

However, the Croatian’s first match – the north London derby against table-topping Arsenal – ended in an abject 4-1 defeat. It leaves Tottenham just four points above 18th-placed West Ham, with away trips to Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool left to traverse.

It is a very real possibility the Europa League holders, who finished fourth in this year’s Champions League group stage, will be dragged into the relegation zone as the business end of the season fast approaches.

And if this almost unfathomable prospect were to come to fruition, Manchester United – the side Spurs beat in last year’s final in Bilbao – should be ready to launch a hostile raid on their rival and exact revenge for that defeat. All is fair in love and war, after all.

Even if Tudor is able to save his new side from that heinous fate, the fact that they will have come perilously close and, save for a miracle in Europe, missed out on Champions League qualification means their players should all have one eye on the exit door after the season finishes.

Consequently, The Peoples Person has run the rule over options at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and identified four players INEOS can target to improve United’s squad this summer, including one being chased by a number of the continent’s elite clubs. Let’s dive in.

Micky van de Ven

The obvious target – as demonstrated by the fact that United are joined by Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in their admiration of the 24-year-old Dutch defensive juggernaut.

Van de Ven possesses a cheat-code combination of size, speed and strength, clocking in as the fastest player in the history of the Premier League, despite standing 6’4″. Big clubs will always look to play with a high line and condense the space available in the opposition half as a means of slow suffocation.

However, this leaves them susceptible to counter-attacks as their defence are forced to cover huge gaps. A behemoth at centre-back who dwarfs the forwards he is marking, while also being faster than them, is a rare profile that has put Europe’s heavyweights on red alert over a potential swoop this summer.

The fact that Van de Ven is also left-footed and adroit in possession, to match his superiority out of it, is just the cherry on top of an outstanding centre-back yet to enter his prime. This red-hot race for the Netherlands international will play to Spurs’ advantage, however, as they will be able to demand top dollar for their prized asset, even after dropping down to the Championship.

A left-sided centre-back would be something of a luxury at Old Trafford, given the resurgent form of Lisandro Martinez and the highly regarded Ayden Heaven waiting in the wings. It’s likely Van de Ven’s skillset would see him beat out the pair to win the starting berth, but with a price tag as high as £100 million being mooted, this would be a misuse of funds for the Red Devils.

Verdict: World-class target, wrong time.

Luka Vuskovic

This is slightly cheating, given Vuskovic – a 19-year-old centre-back already featuring for the Croatia national team – is currently on loan at Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga, and so not currently residing in north London. But the 6’4″ defender is rapidly emerging as one of Europe’s best prospects after a series of imperious displays in Germany, despite his tender years.

Tottenham reached a pre-agreement with Hajduk Split to sign the youngster in 2023 worth around £12m, with the plan for him to officially join in the summer of 2025. He spent pre-season with the Lilywhites, returning a goal and assist on his unofficial debut against Reading.

It was then mutually agreed that a loan move to Hamburg would be the best move for his continued development, with an eye towards securing a first-team spot next season. And his impressive form for the Bundesliga side has certainly given credence to this plan.

However, these performances have caught the attention of a number of big clubs across Europe, including Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid to name but a few. There is a growing feeling Spurs have struck gold with Vuskovic and his price tag is now worth as much as four times their initial investment, with Sports Boom revealing a valuation of £50-60m.

This is almost half the amount required to sign Van de Ven, making it a more realistic prospect for the Red Devils to explore. The Croatian starlet is also a right-sided centre-back with outstanding physicality and aerial dominance, offering a similar profile to Harry Maguire, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

If the 32-year-old Englishman were to depart, United should be at the front of the queue for Vuskovic, who will have zero desire to return to north London if it means playing in the Championship every week.

Verdict: Excellent prospect in a position of potential need, but entirely dependent on Maguire’s future. 

Lucas Bergvall

Bergvall came close to joining the Red Devils after holding two separate trials at Carrington; first, as a 15-year-old, having been spotted by Sergio de Souza, United’s scout for Scandinavia; and then, second, two years later.

Brexit regulations made the signing of the IF Brommapojkarna starlet difficult, however, and sources contend turnover in the recruitment department led to the youngster “slipping the net” in 2022.

Instead, the Swedish midfielder went on to join Djurgardens in December that year, before agreeing to an £8.5m switch to Tottenham when he turned 18 in February 2024, though he only moved to England the following summer.

It has proved a wise piece of business, however, with Bergvall impressing with his combination of physical and technical attributes, having immediately adapted to the rigours of Premier League football.

There was interest from Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool in January, though it’s understood the Swede is content in north London. But if Spurs were to be relegated, the capture of a young box-to-box midfielder who has already adapted to the league would be an astute signing for United, given the need for reinforcements in the engine room this summer.

Casemiro is set to depart after INEOS decided against a contract renewal, while the dismal form of Manuel Ugarte means the Uruguayan’s head will be on the chopping block should a suitable offer arrive. In this scenario, where both players leave, United may need three new midfielders.

The club’s primary targets are Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton. Sandro Tonali and Amadou Onana have also been mooted as alternatives, with Premier League experience considered an essential attribute.

This would make the prospect of signing Bergvall to take Ugarte’s place as fourth-choice in the midfield an excellent option, as a cheaper deal could help facilitate the signing of two of the leading contenders.

Verdict: Good option for squad depth in a problem position, and an obvious upgrade on Ugarte’s limited skillset.

Archie Gray

Another excellent young midfielder who was previously on the radar at Old Trafford before joining Tottenham , Gray is the standout option United should target this summer.

The Leeds academy graduate emerged as one of the country’s finest prospects at Elland Road, catching the attention of major clubs inside and outside of England and winning the Championship’s Young Player of the Year award for the 2023/24 season.

Spurs agreed a fee worth around £40m for the midfielder that summer, with his technical and tactical attributes having seen him line up across the defensive line as well. He stands 6’2″ with good physicality and stamina, though these are areas that will only improve as he matures.

The England U-21 international has endured difficult moments in north London, but these reflect both the growing pains of a young player and the chaos he has found himself surrounded by since arriving.

United are in the market for a new midfielder, a new full-back and potentially a centre-back this summer. Gray provides cover in all three, while offering the potential to grow into one of the Premier League’s outstanding holding midfielders at just 19 years of age.

In comparison to a target like Baleba, for example, Gray’s technique on the ball is levels beyond the Brighton enforcer, while his defensive capabilities have the potential to be even better as well.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are both said to be jostling to secure his signature this summer – a reflection of how highly regarded the midfield dynamo is across Europe.

Old Trafford scouts were closely tracking him while he was still at Leeds – with the fierce rivalry between the two clubs making any pursuit difficult. But a layover in north London breaks up the crossing of this fractious divide, quelling the hostile reaction in Yorkshire.

Verdict: The right target at the right time, with relegation helping United secure the right price. Get it done.

Final Thoughts

While Van de Ven would be a game-changing signing at the back for United, the Dutchman’s price and plethora of options make him an unviable target.

If United are to target a Spurs defender as a replacement for Maguire, Vuskovic is the one to get, though noises coming out of Old Trafford indicate the 32-year-old will put pen to paper on a new deal.

Similarly, Bergvall offers solid depth and will be an affordable target, but Gray is the Lilywhites’ truly outstanding prospect in midfield. His versatility also means minutes will come easily for the English youngster, even if opportunities in the centre of the pitch are limited.

United should go all-out to sign Gray, even if Tudor can rally his troops into avoiding the drop at the end of the season. The 19-year-old starlet is an option worth going to war for.

Featured image George Wood via Getty Images

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social